Homebrew Gunoyan Species Details

Outcasts from a people that have long forgotten them, the Gunoyan, or in the common language, The Lost Ones, are a race with a short history but a rich culture stemmed from a desire for an identity of their own. 

Not many know of their existence in the world, and even fewer would recognize them for their true roots. A colony of desert dwelling people who refer to themselves as The People, the Gunoyan have strong beliefs in traditions pertaining to battle, religion and ancestral ties that dictate their lives and day to day decisions.

The Bowed Legged Ones

Gunoyan are a race of humanoids with dirt red skin and pointed ears, not dissimilar to hobgoblins. However, their most famous trait is that of their legs. With legs shaped in a way not dissimilar to the hind legs of quadrupedal animals, the Gunoyan's legs end in three toed feet tipped with sharp, almost bird like talons. Extremely powerful, these legs grant feats of incredible athleticism; from unnatural leaps to inhuman bursts of speed not seen by other races.

Some Gunoyan, though born with the same legs as the others, have a more natural affinity for the spiritual than their more athletic companions. These Gunoyan, referred to as Iminai, are born with abilities that grant them greater awareness than their counterparts, as well as a minor form of telepathy that allows them to detect nearby creature's thoughts. Though rare within The People, these Iminai are treated with great respect.

A Forged Culture

Due to their cast aside nature, The People do not identify with the culture of their original ancestors, and instead chose to create a new one. With heavy emphasis on respect and learning from failure, The Gunoyan are bound by their traditions, which direct how they interact with others and the world at large.

One such aspect of their culture is their insistence upon wearing masks created from bone and wood while undergoing rituals and combat, as well as in the presence of anyone not a member of The People. Their faces beneath the mask are a mystery to those uninitiated, and very few outsiders are ever granted the opportunity to see a Gunoyan's unguarded features.

Another strong belief of their culture comes from that of classes within their people. Gunoyan separate their population based on roles they play in society, in particular as to how it attains to their approaches to combat. Kithka, or warriors, are the most common class, and specialize in non magical application of weapons and unarmed combat. Rothnin, or sages, are less common, and utilize magics to overwhelm opponents. Malash, or shaman, are those blessed by the guiding words of the Above Ones, and who wield divine magic. Rokithkin, or war priest, are a combination of Kithka, and either of the two other classes, and are trained to utilize magic to boost their combat capabilities.

The Gunoyan also have a tradition called Brood Pairing, in which children born of the same year or day are paired together, regardless of gender, to be trained and raised as one. They live together, fight together, learn together and build strong bonds of respect and comradery between them. When one falls, the other must be ready to help them stand. These two will be bonded until one, or both, become Elders of The People.

The Voyage Trials

The path to becoming an Elder of The People is a long one. An Elder is expected to be both well versed in combat, and in traditions, not just that of the Gunoyan, but of all they can encounter. The trials undergone to become an Elder are known as The Voyage Trials.

A Gunoyan child is taught from the age of 10 years to tattoo significant victories on their left arms and significant losses on their right arms, and from that day forth, are expected to work towards becoming an Elder. To become an Elder, a Gunoyan must accomplish having an equal number of victories on their left arm as to their years of life. For some, this is a quick experience, but for others, it can take a lifetime. 

Gunoyan individuals venture out into the world with the goal of learning and experiencing new combat forms and cultures, to better become equipped to teach as an Elder upon their return home. Once an individual becomes an Elder, their signature weapon of choice is forged in silver, symbolizing their passage into becoming an experienced member of their culture. Only upon completing these trials can a Gunoyan receive their silvered weapon.

Gunoyan Names

Gunoyan use a naming convention that involves the pairing of consonants and at least two vowels, and many have alternative definitions. They might later assume distinctive names to capture their changed identities.

Some names used are:

Male; Kuthan, Munam, Rithki, Lokel, Sanshet
Female; Getra, Ditrin, Trenna, Bokkan, Kistrik

Subraces

Two major subraces of Gunoyan are found. Yuhsa and Iminai. They are physically very similar, though Yuhsa tend to have a more naturally athletic build

Gunoyan Traits

Your gunoyan character has certain characteristics in common with all other gunoyan.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Primordial. Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Gunoyan mature at about the same rate as humans and reach adulthood in their late teens. They live somewhat longer than humans do, up to 120 years.

Alignment

Heavily traditional and reliant on order and respect, gunoyan tend toward a lawful alignment.

Size

Gunoyan typically having a standard build aside from their legs, standing anywhere from 5 feet to over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.